4 frequently asked questions about foods that help treat heartburn

Everyone experiences heartburn occasionally. Eating greasy and oily food or foods high in fats often trigger acid reflux in a lot of people. These foods cause the acid in the stomach to move back along the esophagus and trigger acid reflux symptoms. One such symptom is heartburn. It leads to a lot of discomforts and also causes chest and back pain in some people. Although occasional heartburn can be quite benign, frequent occurrences of heartburn can affect the esophagus and lead to other health complications. The best way to prevent acid reflux is to eat foods that help heartburn by neutralizing the excess acid produced in the stomach.

Which are the foods that help treat heartburn?

• Vegetables : Since vegetables have low sugar and fat content, they help in alleviating the symptoms of heartburn. One of the healthiest groups of foods that help heartburn, vegetables also reduce stomach acid. To prevent heartburn, it is recommended to regularly eat vegetables such as cucumbers, potatoes, cauliflower, leafy greens, green beans, broccoli, and asparagus.
• Fruits : In this food category, non-citrus fruits are the foods that help in heartburn. These include melons, apples, pears, and bananas.

Which foods trigger heartburn?

• Caffeine : Foods contains caffeine are some of the major triggers of heartburn. Tea, coffee, and carbonated beverages contain high amounts of caffeine.
• Spicy foods : Foods that contain a lot of spices especially garlic or onion cause acid reflux. This leads to heartburn and discomfort.
• Citrus fruits : Citrus fruits have high levels of acid. Eating fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, limes, and pineapple can aggravate heartburn symptoms.
• Fatty foods : Foods that have a high-fat content cause heartburn quite frequently. Fried fatty foods are the biggest triggers of heartburn. French fries, onion rings, fried lamb or pork or beef, lard, ham fat, and bacon fat are known to cause heartburn.

Why do certain foods trigger heartburn?

• Foods can be either alkaline or acidic. This depends on the pH level of a specific food item. pH level is the number that indicated the acid content of the food item.
• Lower pH number indicates a higher level of acidity in the food item. For example, lemon juice has a pH level of 2.0. It is highly acidic and one of the biggest triggers of heartburn. Food that helps heartburn usually have a pH level of 5 or above.
• The pH level is not mentioned in the nutrition label of foods. pH levels of food can be found from government websites that contain nutrition information. Low-acid diet cookbooks are also good sources to find out about pH levels of foods.

Are there any lifestyle changes that help in treating heartburn?

• Along with eating foods that help heartburn, avoiding alcohol and smoking can be quite effective in preventing acid reflux.
• Overeating is also known to cause acid reflux, which leads to heartburn. Eating too much food can create problems during digestion and cause acid to move back through the esophagus. Reducing food portions and eating slowly can help in avoiding overeating. Small and frequent meals will satiate hunger as well as keep a person feeling full.
• It is recommended to have meals for at least three to four hours before going to bed. Often, people experience heartburn while sleeping. Raising the head of the bed by four to six inches can help in avoiding heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms. Being in an upright position for at least two hours after eating can help in preventing heartburn.

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